Red Raiders in the Major Leagues: Week 1 Update

06/25/2014 05:13 PM

06/25/2014 05:17 PM

LUBBOCK, Texas – The Texas Tech baseball program started the 2014 Major League Baseball season with several former players on MLB rosters and on Minor League Baseball teams trying to reach the big leagues.

LUBBOCK, Texas (Texas Tech Press Release) –The Texas Tech baseball program started the 2014 Major League Baseball season with several former players on MLB rosters and on Minor League Baseball teams trying to reach the big leagues.

Currently, there are 24 former Texas Tech players who are playing with an MLB organization as a player. Throughout the remainder of the summer, Texas Tech athletics communications will provide weekly updates on former Red Raiders competing at the major league and minor league level.

Roger Kieschnick (OF –Arizona Diamondbacks)

Kieschnick has been called up twice this season to the D-Backs and is batting .200 (4-for-20) during nine games. He recently hit his first career big league home run going 1-for-4 against the Brewers (June 17) in Arizona with a solo shot. His first multi-hit game of the season was going 2-for-4 with an RBI against the Brewers on June 16. Kieschnick was a three-year starter for Tech, 2006-08, and was drafted in 2008 in the third round by the San Francisco Giants.

AJ Ramos (RHP – Relief Pitcher – Miami Marlins)

Ramos leads the Marlins with 38 appearances (all relief) while his 12 holds rank 12th in Major League Baseball and eighth among National League relievers. Ramos is 4-0 with three saves, 35.2 innings pitched, 41 strikeouts and 26 walks allowed. During his last 10 outings, Ramos is 1-0 with a 0.90 ERA in 10.0 innings with 11 strikeouts. He currently has eight straight outings without allowing an earned run. Ramos pitched four years at Tech, 2006-09, and was drafted in 2009 in the 21st round by the Florida Marlins.

Josh Tomlin (RHP – Starting Pitcher – Cleveland Indians)

Tomlin is back in 2014 after missing all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Tomlin is 4-5 this season with nine starts (10 appearances) with a 4.39 ERA, 55.1 innings, 47 strikeouts and nine walks allowed. Tomlin pitched one season at Tech in 2006 and was drafted in 2006 in the 19th round by the Cleveland Indians.

Bettis made 13 outings in the big leagues with the Rockies to start the season before being sent to Triple-A. With the Sky Sox, Bettis is 2-2 in 14 relief outings with a 1.59 ERA and two saves with 28.1 innings, 28 strikeouts and 11 walks allowed. His last 10 outings, Bettis has thrown at least two innings in each appearance with a 1.27 ERA with 23 strikeouts and nine walks. Bettis pitched three seasons at Tech, 2008-2010 and was drafted in 2010 in the second round by the Colorado Rockies.

Doran recently won his 32nd career minor league game while this season is 2-4 with a 5.32 ERA in 18 outings (8 starts) with 67.2 innings, 35 strikeouts and 26 walks allowed. Doran pitched one season at Tech in 2010 and was drafted in 2010 in the third round by the Houston Astros.

Hynes was traded to the Dodgers organization early this season after making his MLB debut last year with the San Diego Padres. In fact, Hynes was sent from Cleveland to LA for former Red Raider RHP Duke von Schamann. Hynes has made 28 relief outings this season with a 0-3 record, 4.64 ERA, two saves and 33.0 innings pitched with 30 strikeouts and three walks allowed. Hynes pitched two seasons at Tech, 2006-07, and was drafted in 2007 in the 31st round by the San Diego Padres.

Karns made three outings in the big leagues with the Rays earlier this season but has since made 14 starts in Triple-A for the Bulls where he is 3-4 with a 5.58 ERA in 69.1 innings. He ranks sixth in the International League with 75 strikeouts while allowing 36 walks. Karns pitched two years at Tech, 2008-09, and was drafted in 2009 in the 12th round by the Washington Nationals.

Richardson is currently on the 7-day disabled list after making 12 outings (3 starts) with a 1-3 record in Triple-A this season with a 6.82 ERA in 30.1 innings with 31 strikeouts and 14 walks allowed. Richardson pitched two seasons at Tech, 2005-06, and was drafted in 2006 in the fifth round by the Boston Red Sox.

Stewart is currently on the 7-day disabled list. Stewart has made 10 starts and 12 overall outings this season for Triple-A Gwinnett. He is 4-3 with a 3.88 ERA in 72.0 innings with 36 strikeouts and 22 walks. He won his most recent outing in relief going 5.2 innings allowing just one earned run on six hits with two walks allowed on June 8. Stewart pitched one season at Tech in 2008 and was drafted in 2008 in the third round by the Cincinnati Reds.

Leverton was up for big-league spring training but has been in Double-A this season where he has made two outings – both in relief – with a 0-0 record, 0.00 ERA in two innings with two strikeouts. He is one of three Red Raiders from the 2008 MLB Draft class (Roger Kieschnick, Zach Stewart) who remain in professional baseball. Leverton pitched three years at Tech, 2006-08, and was drafted in 2008 in the 8th round by the Chicago Cubs.

Tomlinson is in his first full season at the Double-A level while batting .245 (53-for-216) with 28 runs, four doubles, one triple and 15 RBI. He ranks second in the Eastern League with 28 stolen bases while only being caught stealing five times in 33 attempts. Three of his past five games he has tallied multiple hits. Tomlinson played one year at Tech in 2011 and was drafted in 2011 in the 12th round by the San Francisco Giants.

von Schamann started the season with the Dodgers, who drafted him in the 15th round in 2012, but was then traded to the Indians for former Red Raider LHP Colt Hynes in early April. In three minor league seasons, von Schamann is 22-12 and this season is 5-1 with a 3.38 ERA in 15 appearances (11 starts) with one save, 80.0 innings and 41 strikeouts and 18 walks allowed. von Schamann pitched two years at Tech, 2011-12, and was drafted in 2012 in the 14th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Broyles has made 25 outings – all in relief – for Modesto this season with a 2-2 record and 4.78 ERA in 37.2 innings. He has 41 strikeouts and 14 walks allowed while opponents are batting .259. During his last 10 outings, Broyles is 1-0 with a 0.57 ERA in 15.2 innings with 19 strikeouts and four walks allowed. Broyles pitched one year at Tech in 2012 and was drafted in 2012 in the 14th round by the Colorado Rockies.

Coulombe is having his best minor league season while making 23 outings out of the bullpen with a 3-0 record, 3.22 ERA and one save this season. He has pitched 36.1 innings with 45 strikeouts and 14 walks allowed. He has 20 strikeouts over his last 10 outings (14.0 IP) while posting six straight scoreless outings entering this week. Coulombe pitched two years at Tech, 2011-12, and was drafted in 2012 in the 25th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Redman was named to the Florida State League All-Star Game after starting the year as one of the top relievers in Class A-Advanced. Redman – who also made one outing in Double-A this season – is 2-1 with a 2.18 ERA in 23 relief outings with four saves and 33.0 innings pitched. He has 36 strikeouts with only eight walks allowed and opponents are batting a miniscule .195 against him this season. Redman played two years at Tech, 2011-12, and was drafted in 2012 in the 23rd round by the Tampa Bay Rays.

Bo Altobelli (C – Minnesota Twins – Single-A – Cedar Rapids Kernals)

Altobelli is in his third season of minor league baseball and is currently batting .216 (27-for-125) in 37 games with 17 runs, six doubles and four RBI with 11 walks. He is one of seven Red Raiders from the 2012 MLB Draft class that remains in professional baseball. Altobelli played three years at Tech, 2010-12, and was drafted in 2012 in the 21st round by the Minnesota Twins.

Barnes, who has battled injuries most of the season, is batting .154 (2-for-13) in four games in Single-A with one run scored and two RBI with two stolen bases. Barnes played three years at Tech, 2010-12, and was drafted in 2012 in the first round by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Bruening, who hasn’t pitched the past three seasons, returns to minor league baseball in 2014 and has made two outings this season – both in relief – with two innings pitched and one walk allowed. Bruening played one year at Tech, 2010, and was drafted in 2010 in the 42nd round by the Chicago White Sox.

Jamodrick McGruder (2B – Cincinnati Reds – Single-A – Dayton Dragons)

McGruder, a 2012 All-American at Texas Tech, was picked up by the Reds prior to the season after being released just prior to spring training by the Mariners, who drafted McGruder in the ninth round two years ago. McGruder is batting .260 (47-for-181) with 23 runs, seven doubles, four triples and a home run and is 8-for-12 in stolen base tries. He entered today with a five-game hit streak while posting back-to-back multi-hit games. McGruder played three years at Tech, 2010-2012, and was drafted in 2012 in the ninth round by the Seattle Mariners.

Wheeler has pitched in relief and started this season with 16 outings and eight starts with a 0-2 record and 3.71 ERA. He had pitched in 51.0 innings with 57 strikeouts and 17 walks allowed. His last performance, 4.2 innings in a start, resulted in eight strikeouts allowing three earned runs on four hits with just one walk. Wheeler pitched three years at Tech, 2011-13, and was drafted in 2013 in the 15th round by the Chicago White Sox.

Masek, who was held in extended spring training due to injury, has made two relief outings this season with a 9.82 ERA in 3.2 innings with five strikeouts and four walks allowed. Masek’s first outing came on June 18 when he struck out four in two scoreless innings. Masek pitched three years at Tech, 2011-13, and was drafted in 2013 in the fifth round by the Chicago Cubs.

McCrummen has made four outings from the bullpen with a 1-0 record and 1.80 ERA in five innings of work with five strikeouts and three walks while opponents have batted .222. McCrummen has struck out multiple batters in two of his four outings. McCrummen pitched three years at Tech, 2011-2013, and was drafted in 2013 in the 23rd round by the Colorado Rockies.

Hunter Redman (C – Los Angeles Dodgers – Minor Leagues)

Redman recently agreed to terms with the Los Angeles Dodgers and this week reported to Arizona, site of the organization’s spring training facilities. As a junior, Redman batted .246 (35-for-142) with 11 runs, three doubles and 17 RBI with eight walks and committed just two errors behind the plate with a .993 fielding percentage. Redman played one year at Tech, 2014, and was drafted in 2014 in the eighth round by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Sadberry recently agreed to terms with the Miami Marlins and this week reported to Florida, site of the organization’s spring training facilities. Sadberry was Tech’s staff ace in 2014 during its first-ever College World Series season going 5-3 with a 3.03 ERA in 18 appearances (17 starts) with a team-leading 95.0 innings and 65 strikeouts. Sadberry pitched one year at Tech, 2014, and was drafted in 2014 in the sixth round by the Miami Marlins.